London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Woolwich 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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cases increase the health services, with the result that by the Appointed Day (5th
July, 1948) all pre-war services were functioning with increased attendances, and
in addition schemes for daily guardians, care of illegitimate children, care of
premature infants, domestic helps, and midwifery sessions at Centres, were
operating.
The following Table of Statistics from 1906 onwards may prove of interest:—
| Year. | Births. | Infant Mortality rate (under 1 year). | Neo-natal Mortality rate. | Maternal Mortality rate (per 1,000 births). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | (nett rate) | ||||
| 1906 | 3,549 | 29.8 | 109 | 41 | 2.25 |
| 7 | 3,330 | 27.8 | 112 | 42 | 0.60 |
| 8 | 3,176 | 26.0 | 94 | 38 | 0.63 |
| 9 | 2,947 | 24.5 | 82 | 30 | 2.03 |
| 10 | 2,842 | 23.6 | 85 | 37 | 1.40 |
| 11 | 2,810 | 23.1 | 97 | 33 | 3.91 |
| 12 | 2,776 | 22.8 | 75 | 33 | 1.44 |
| 13 | 2,833 | 23.1 | 80 | 32 | 1.77 |
| 14 | 2,838 | 23.2 | 85 | 34 | 3.88 |
| 15 | 2,815 | 20.9 | 95 | 30 | 2.92 |
| 16 | 3,068 | 23.5 | 69 | 34 | 4.89 |
| 17 | 2,718 | 20.6 | 79 | 33 | 5.15 |
| 18 | 2,548 | 19.0 | 106 | 42 | 5.89 |
| 19 | 2,737 | 20.1 | 86 | 43 | 4.75 |
| 20 | 2,658 | 26.9 | 61 | 28 | 3.01 |
| 21 | 3,197 | 23.2 | 62 | 23 | 3.13 |
| 22 | 2,941 | 21.3 | 63 | 29 | 2.04 |
| 23 | 2,867 | 20.5 | 43 | 25 | 1.74 |
| 24 | 2,590 | 18.5 | 65 | 27 | 3.86 |
| 25 | 2,582 | 18.3 | 55 | 25 | 3.48 |
| 26 | 2,463 | 17.4 | 43 | 22 | 2.44 |
| 27 | 2,242 | 15.9 | 42 | 23 | 2.68 |
| 28 | 2,269 | 16.1 | 50 | 23 | 5.73 |
| 29 | 2,312 | 16.3 | 62 | 27 | 6.06 |
| 30 | 2,188 | 15.5 | 42 | 20 | 3.66 |
| 31 | 2,155 | 15.1 | 59 | 29 | 3.71 |
| 32 | 2,054 | 14.0 | 60 | 25 | 2.92 |
| 33 | 1,857 | 12.7 | 62 | 34 | 3.29 |
| 34 | 2,000 | 13.7 | 63 | 28 | 1.50 |
| 35 | 2,053 | 14.0 | 44 | 19 | 1.46 |
| 36 | 2,017 | 13.8 | 59 | 22 | 2.47 |
| 37 | 2,125 | 14.2 | 40 | 17 | 1.41 |
| 38 | 2,057 | 13.6 | 50 | 23 | 0.48 |
| 39 | 2,133 | 14.1 | 49 | 1.40 | |
| 40 | 1,846 | 14.8 | 36 | — | 0.54 |
| 41 | 1,459 | 14.0 | 42 | — | 1.37 |
| 42 | 2,036 | 18.5 | 34 | 1.42 | |
| 43 | 2,174 | 19.3 | 35 | — | 1.79 |
| 44 | 2,037 | 18.3 | 40 | — | 1.43 |
| 45 | 2,021 | 17.5 | 41 | 22 | 1.94 |
| 46 | 2,903 | 21.6 | 31 | 20 | 0.34 |
| 47 | 3,193 | 22.8 | 27 | 11 | 0.92 |
| 1948 | 2,527 | 17.7 | 29 | 21 | 0.43 |
Tuberculosis. The Tuberculosis Dispensary was opened at Maxey Road in
September, 1911, by a local voluntary Committee inaugurated at a Conference
held by the Health Committee of the Borough Council and under the auspices of the
" Central Fund for the Promotion of the Dispensary System for the Prevention of
Consumption in London," supported in addition by local voluntary funds. When
in 1921 the central funds failed, the Dispensary, including the existing staff, was
taken over by the Borough Council, and the Tuberculosis service became an integral
part of its Health Services, until it was transferred to the Regional Hospital Board
in July, 1948. From then until the end of the year, however, the Council continued
to administer the service as agents for the Board.